Pinyon Pines triple murder: Haunting photos and timeline
In 2006, Becky Friedli, Vicki Friedli and Jon Hayward were found murdered on a burning property in Pinyon Pines, Calif.
At 9:51 p.m. on Sept. 17, 2006, a 911 call came in that a house on Alpine Road in Pinyon Pines was on fire.
Pinyon Pines Triple Murder
Another photo of what was once the Friedli home.
Horrific Clue
When investigators arrived on the scene, they found the house engulfed in flames and the body of a young woman still burning in a wheelbarrow outside the house.
Becky Friedli
The victim in the wheelbarrow was 18-year-old Becky Friedli. Her body was so badly burned that it was not possible to determine the cause of death.
Vicki Friedli
Found inside the home, was the charred body of Becky's mother, 53-year-old Vicki Friedli. It was later determined she had been shot in the head with a handgun.
Jon Hayward
Also found inside the home, was the body of Vicki Friedli's live-in boyfriend, 55-year-old Jon Hayward. It was later determined he had been shot in chest with a shotgun.
Becky & Vicki Friedli
Becky and her mother, Vicki Friedli.
Found in the Rubble
A burned baby doll found at the scene.
Robert Pape & Becky Friedli
Soon after the murders, rumors started swirling about Becky Friedli's 18-year-old ex-boyfriend, Robert Pape.
Robert Pape & Becky Friedli
Becky Friedli and and Robert Pape had dated for about 15 months. They broke up in January 2006 - eight months before the murders.
Charred Photo
Various burned pictures were recovered at the torched property, including this picture of Robert Pape.
Javier Garcia Jr.
Javier Garcia Jr., one of Becky Friedli's best friends, told investigators that Becky had told him she was going hiking with Robert Pape and his friend, Christian Smith, on the evening of the murder.
Christian Smith & Robert Pape
Christian Smith and Robert Pape, pictured, told investigators they never went to Becky Friedli's house and had no intention of hiking with her that night.
A Friend's Suspicions
Jeanie McDaniel, another one of Becky Friedli's friends, says she suspected immediately who had been responsible because she says Becky had told her that Robert Pape had threatened her life because he was not taking the breakup well.
In the Ruins
A burned picture of Jeanie McDaniel and Becky Friedli recovered after the fire.
P.I. on the Case
The Friedli family hoped that arrests would be made, but the case eventually went cold. In 2012, private investigator Luis Bolaños stepped in to try and get the case on the front pages again.
Provocative Billboard
Luis Bolaños took to the media and put up this billboard. The picture of Becky on fire in the wheelbarrow was simulated.
New Info
People started stepping forward with information. One of them was Becky's cousin, Daniela Zermeño, who said Becky had told her she had argued with Robert Pape at her job the day before the murders.
Going Public
Bolaños urged Zermeño to go public with her story. Zermeño, pictured left, is seen at a press conference at the murder site on the seven-year anniversary.
Robert Pape & Christian Smith
In March 2014, more than seven years after the crime, Robert Pape and Christian Smith were arrested.
Christian Smith
Christian Smith was now married and a decorated Army veteran having served various tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has been awarded two Purple Hearts.
Christian Smith
Christian Smith's father, John Conrad Smith, says his son is wrongly accused.
Robert Pape
Robert Pape was a married and hard-working member of the community and a loved member of his family.
A Sister's Support
Robert Pape has been mischaracterized as a "jealous monster" according to his sister, Christy Pape.
Evidence Questioned
John Patrick Dolan, Christian Smith's attorney, says the entire case is built on questionable and hearsay evidence.
Robert Pape
Robert Pape's attorney says that there was no motive for Robert to want to kill Becky because at the time of the murders he was already dating Sara, the woman who would later become his wife.
The couple were divorced at the end of 2015.
Christian Smith
Six months after the arrests, prosecutors asked a judge to dismiss the charges against Pape and Smith with little explanation. Christian Smith met his newborn daughter for the first time.
Convicted in 2018
Christian Smith was charged again with the murders in 2016. In 2018, he was tried and convicted of first-degree murder in the deaths of Vicki Friedli and Jon Hayward.
Convicted in 2018
Robert Pape was charged again with the murders in 2016. In 2018, he was tried and convicted of first-degree murder in the deaths of Vicki Friedli and Jon Hayward and of second-degree murder in the death of Becky Friedli.